Brewery Tours Around the World

Check out what these international hop houses are offering visitors

By Amanda Greene

With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, there's one thing on everyone's mind: Beer! And while Ireland is certainly famous for its hops, there are plenty of other interesting breweries across the globe. From hilltop monasteries to historical brew houses, check out our favorite breweries for tourists.

Guinness Storehouse, Dublin, Ireland

Delve into the history of Ireland's most famous brew at the Guinness Storehouse in the St. James Gate Brewery. Guests begin their tour by standing at the bottom of the world's largest pint glass (which can hold 14.3 million pints) before embarking on a journey through the brand's heritage, traditions and brewing process. Also included in the tour: A pint of Guinness at the facility's Gravity Bar, which boasts stunning panoramic views of Dublin. General Admission: €15 ($21) for adults; €5 ($7) for children ages 6 to 12. Photo: Getty Images

Samuel Adams Brewery, Boston, MA, United States

You can—literally!—drink in this American brand at the Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston. Not only do guests get to learn about the brewing process and history—Samuel Adams has been around since the 1870s and was named after the revolutionary who had inherited a brewing tradition––but tastings of special malts and award-winning beers are also provided. Admission: Free with a $2 suggested donation. Photo: courtesy of Samuel Adams Brewery

Monastery Brewery Andechs, Bavaria

Located on a mountain in Upper Bavaria, the Benedictine Monastery Andechs has been a famous place of pilgrimage since 955. It's also the site of Kloster Andechs Bräustüberl brewery, which produces seven types of beer. After your tour of the facility, enjoy the restaurant's beer and Bavarian culinary selections—like knuckle of pork and roasted chicken––on a terrace offering stunning views of the Bavarian Alps. Admission: €4.50 ($6.50). Photo: STOCK4B-RF / Getty Images

Weihenstephan Brewery, Freising, Germany

Weihenstephan, founded in 1040, is the oldest brewery in the world, and was originally the brewery of the Benedictine monks, and later the Royal Bavarian Brewery. Perched atop Weihenstephan Hill in the city of Freising, it offers guided tours, which start out with a visit to the brewery museum and continue on to a discussion of the art of brewing. You can also top off your tour with a brew-tasting session––the company offers 12 different types of beer––complete with a pretzel and souvenir beer glass. Admission: €6 ($8) for guided tour; €9 ($13) for tour plus tasting. Photo: courtesy of Weihenstephan Brewery

Monsteiner Bier, Monstein, Switzerland

Located high in the Swiss Alps, the Monsteiner brewery produces several types of beer, all made with fresh spring water, Swiss hops and malt, and was the brainchild of four local friends who originally just wanted to make their own beer for a party. Their creation turned into a full-fledged brewery where visitors can take part in a variety of activities, including Nordic walking, snowshoeing and bobsled riding, all culminating in a brewery tour followed by a tasting. Other local treats available at the brewery include beer cheese and brewer's bacon. Photo: courtesy of Monsteiner Bier

Sapporo Beer Museum, Hookaido, Sapporo, Japan

There are five Sapporo breweries in Japan, but the Sapporo Beer Museum, located in the former Sapporo Sugar Company building, opened in 1987 and remains the country's only beer museum. There, visitors can enjoy a tour and learn about the company's brewing practices, after which they can have a fresh draft beer and Genghis Khan-style barbecued lamb at the Sapporo biergarten. Admission: Free. Photo: David McKelvey/Flickr

Heineken Experience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Fully immerse yourself in 150 years of brewing tradition at the Heineken Experience—part tour, part entertainment––in Amsterdam. The interactive experience will take you to the historic brew room as well as let you in on the production experience by giving you an idea of what it feels like to be "brewed and bottled." You can even star in your own video and create your own personalized beer bottle before enjoying a Heineken tasting. Admission: €15 ($21). Photo: Getty Images

Stella Artois, Leuven, Belgium

When the DeHoorn brewery, open since 1366, first brewed its Stella Artois beer, it was intended to be a special holiday run—the name is a combination of the Latin word for star (stella) and the name of the brewery's founder, Sebastien Artois. But it was such a hit that they made it a permanent offering. Visitors to the Stella Artois brewery in Leuven can take an hour-long tour, which guides them through the brewing hall and filing lines, and quench their thirst post-tour with a Stella in the brewery's Den Thuis bar. Admission: €6 ($8). Photo: Piotrek.Kazmierczak/ Flickr

Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, NY, United States

To get your fill of company lore and the low-down on Brooklyn Brewery's craftsmanship (they brew six types of beer), head to this New York City borough on a Saturday or Sunday to go on one of their tours. If you don't want a guided experience, visitors can also hang out at the brewery and enjoy the drinks (beers are $4) on both days as well as on Friday nights. Snacks are offered but you can also opt to order in your own munchies. Admission: Free. Photo: courtesy of Brooklyn Brewery

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